Live: 22-6-00 FILA Forum - Milan, Italy - Pearl Jam

Legendary acts never grow old, and, as evidenced by Pearl Jam's 2000 European tour, neither will this one. Quite simply, they are quite tired of bootlegger's antics to illegally record shows for profit. It is quite possible at the beginning of this new century to find bootleg copies of just about any band only days after a local appearance. That is why, with the help of Epic and Pearl Jam's live-sound engineer, Brett Eliason, this fearsome five-some took a crack at beating the bootlegger's in their own sour game. Twenty-five live performances in nearly every major part of Europe, with little cities thrown in, were recorded and released onto double-CD packages. Each package holds the two discs inside a shabby, cardboard cover, stamped only with the band's name, tour date, and location in broken typewriter lettering. Pearl Jam's show at the Fila Forum Arena in Milan, Italy is number 20 in the series. The record can be dubbed as a solid live performance in front of quite a jubilant crowd of thousands. The crowd greets the band with wild enthusiasm for their first tune, "Of the Girl," after minutes of anticipation and waiting. And the wait sure paid off. Singer Eddie Vedder, bassist Jeff Ament, guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, and drummer Matt Cameron walk to the spotlight to receive a crescendo of cheers. The listener's of Milan are heard chanting "Eddie, Eddie, Eddie..." as the band rises to the occasion to please their attentive fans. The concert can be marked a celebration of the band's legacy and continuing rise of popularity away from the states and their home, Seattle, Washington. Featured are 29 songs, quite a lengthy set, so as not to disappoint the night owls. The arsenal of Pearl Jam's songs, many passionate, some heart-felt, portray their decade-old history. "Corduroy" and "Betterman" from their third release, Vitalogy, are bright spots on the record and show their transition of sound and influence from their breakthrough debut, Ten, and their sophomore sleeper release, Vs. Tracks that came to be the band's trademark anthems, such as "Even Flow," "Black," and "Jeremy," still soar from the stage with deep resonance and sheer power. But perhaps it is their array of fresh material, as found on their sixth album, Binaural, that the listener can discover the band's new sound and ever-changing identity. Their presence as a unit is overwhelming in the song's "Grievance," "God's Dice," and their 2000 single "Light Years," each of which display the band's remarkable growth and dexterity in their music. The eloquent, and hopeful rock-ballad "Given to Fly" shows the optimism and joy of Pearl Jam's fifth release, Yield. This daring rendition of their 1997 hit resonates the message of release and dreams, as Vedder sings "he still gives his love/he just gives it away/the love he receives is the love that is saved." A brilliant lyrical message. "Sleight of Hand," newly introduced to the audience by Vedder, is a hauntingly beautiful tune, portraying the image of a man caught in a dark world of sleep and depression. However, this is a poignant song of hope, as the man who finds himself not recalling his change of lifestyle "resurfaces to the norm" in eagerness to catch up with a quickly-changing society. There are a plethora of special bits in the package that listeners can feel entertained by, including Eddie Vedder's story of his experience in Italy, about the first time he fell in love. Perhaps the biggest thrill of all of this night is the magnificent trade-offs of song between the crowd and Vedder during the band's playing of "Daughter." Towards the tail end, a magical, mystical call-and-response of "hey" echoes throughout the arena. In a world filled with music of the superficial and teeny-bop, bubble-gum pop singers and boy groups, there is still hope for the avid rock listener. True Seattle rock & roll will not diminish from the likes of Pearl Jam, a group filled with pride, passion, and intricate musicianship. Their music is full of subtle textures, rich color, soul-searching power, imagery, and eerie dissonance. Their gift of continuing creativity is the only thing that will write the success of their future. This series will be a certain collector's item in time. ~ Shawn Haney, All Music Guide